Undrafted gem? 49ers might have something in small school safety

One of the prominent unknowns facing the 49ers’ transition to their new-look defense is at free safety. They’re moving 2014 first-round pick Jimmie Ward there, making him responsible for the deep portion of the field as the single high center fielder.

Ward hasn’t played safety for an extended period since college in 2013, save for a short stint at the end of 2015 when Jaquiski Tartt was injured. Ward spent his first three seasons working as a cornerback focusing on the slot before transitioning to the outside as a full-time starter last season.

Safety is a more physically demanding position, which raises questions about Ward’s durability. The Northern Illinois alum is playing with a stabilizing screw in his right foot after a pair of Jones fractures before he was drafted and eight games into his rookie year. Ward’s missed 13 games during his first three seasons and would be the 49ers’ smallest starter at 5-foot-11 and 193 pounds.

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The 49ers don’t have much in the form of an established backup plan, which highlights the importance of the depth chart at that position, and the promise of undrafted rookie Lorenzo Jerome.

“I think he led our team during OTAs in interceptions,” general manager John Lynch said of Jerome on KNBR’s Gary and Larry this week.

The 49ers added Jerome from little-known Saint Francis (Loretto, Pennsylvania) after the draft. He was ESPN analyst Todd McShay’s top rookie free agent available, who performed far better on tape than he tested. Jerome (5-10, 204) ran an unappealing 4.70 in the 40 at the combine before improving his mark to 4.63 at his pro day.

“I think safety’s a position where if you have tremendous instincts, you have great understanding angles, you can get by some of that,” said Lynch, a former safety who remains a strong Hall of Fame candidate. “And it’s not as if his (testing) numbers are so bad he can’t play. He can definitely play in this league and we’re excited to see if he can do enough to make this team.”

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Jerome’s instincts are what got him to the NFL. He logged 18 interceptions and 47 pass breakups in just 42 college games, making him one of the most productive safeties in the entire class. The obvious question, however, is can he do it against better competition? Saint Francis plays in the NCAA Division I subdivision, which used to be known as Division I-AA.

“I can tell you, certain guys, and I played with Ronde Barber, and the ball always found him. And what you realize after a while, it’s not finding him, he’s finding it,” said Lynch. “Some people say they’re just lucky, they get every tip . . . But that’s how (Jerome’s) been out here.”

Jerome spent the offseason program working with the third team at free safety while Vinnie Sunseri played free safety with the second unit. Jerome was also given time at slot cornerback, indicating the 49ers are open to making him more versatile on the reasonable chance he makes the team.

And if anything were to happen to Ward, Jerome might be the top backup option available if his instincts carry him through training camp and on to the final roster.